Celebrating its 60th anniversary, Disneyland unveiled plans for its new $5.5-billion Shanghai resort, aiming to offer a “perfect” experience that’s both “authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese.” Here’s what tourists can expect:
- With over 44 million visitors expected a day, Shanghai will eliminate long lines by introducing scrums
- ‘Main Street USA’ replaced by a giant, pedestrianized boulevard featuring local brands such as Gucci, KFC and Apple
- Hotels boast traditional features, such as scalding-hot containers of water outside every room and a persistent alarm call at 4am, offering the ‘special service’
- All restaurants to offer squid-on-a-stick
- Multitude of references to Mulan remind visitors that Disney once drew a Chinese character
- Honoring China’s literary tradition, visitors to the Haunted Mansion will find poets, scholars, journalists and lawyers safely locked in the dungeon
- Large, empty space for seniors to practice calligraphy, fly kites and sing anti-capitalist songs
- Animatronic models on the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ approach guests with reasonable deals on genuine Chanel and Preda accessories
- Cinderella’s Enchanted Castle is magically demolished at 10am, 1pm and 4pm
- Classic performances at the resort’s theatre include Goofy Beats the Japanese and The Nutritious Lion King
- Roller-coaster with ancient dragon theme
- Something to do with the Monkey King, probably
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